Blackstar is David Bowie's twenty-fifth and final studio album, released on January 8, 2016 — his 69th birthday — just two days before his death on January 10, 2016. The album stands as one of the most remarkable farewell statements in the history of popular music, widely regarded as a deliberate and deeply personal parting gift to his fans.

Recorded in New York with producer Tony Visconti and a core group of jazz musicians, Blackstar marked a dramatic artistic departure from anything Bowie had done before. Drawing heavily on jazz, art rock, and experimental music, the album was partly inspired by Bowie's admiration for Kendrick Lamar's To Pimp a Butterfly, as well as the work of Scott Walker. The result is a dense, cinematic, and emotionally complex record that rewards repeated listening.

In retrospect, the album's lyrics and imagery are filled with references to death, legacy, and transformation — themes that took on profound new meaning following Bowie's passing. Songs like the title track Blackstar and Lazarus are now understood as conscious meditations on mortality.

Tracklist

Side A
1. Blackstar
2. 'Tis a Pity She Was a Whore
3. Lazarus
4. Sue (Or in a Season of Crime)
5. Girl Loves Me

Side B
6. Dollar Days
7. I Can't Give Everything Away